Geraldine Balogh
Feb. 13, 1921-Dec. 25, 2006

By Staff
Geraldine Balogh, 85, of Stateline Road in Niles, died at 8:29 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 25, 2006, at West Woods in Niles, following an illness.
The family is gathering privately for Geraldine's funeral services.
There will be no visitation.
Burial will take place in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
Memorial contributions in the memory of Geraldine Balogh may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service or to Hospice at Home.
Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:05am Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Louis E. Walls
Sept. 24, 1934-April 6, 2008

By Staff
     Louis E. Walls, 73, of East River Road, Buchanan, and formerly of Woodruff Street, Niles, died Sunday, April 6, 2008, at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind., following an extended illness.
     Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Carl W. Bassett of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, officiating.
     Friends may call beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, where a flag presentation and Taps will follow the service by the American Legion Post No. 26, Niles.
     Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
     He was born on Sept. 24, 1934, in Monette, Ark. to Newt Walls and Iva Pennington.
     Walls graduated in 1952, from Central High School in Caraway, Ark. He had lived in Niles since 1953, moving to Buchanan in 2006.
     He retired in 1996, after 46 years of service to Simplicity Pattern Company in Niles.
     He attended Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Niles.
     Walls was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, having served in the United States Army. He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 26, V.F.W. Post No. 4025 and the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 2094, all of Niles.
     He enjoyed hunting, fishing and NASCAR auto racing.
     On Aug. 17, 1991, in Niles, he married June M. (Martin) Cramer Walls, who died in 2005.
He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Lloyd Walls, Warren Walls and William Walls.
     Surviving family include two sons, Daryl (Donna) Walls of Buchanan and Randy (Gina) Walls of LaPorte, Ind.; two daughters, Terri (Darren) Jones of Niles and Nicole (Ron) Lengerich of Elkhart, Ind.; two step-daughters, Renee Bolen of Niles and Roxi (Bill) Rudlaff of Elkhart, Ind.; a step-son, John Brittin of Niles; 14 grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Beatrice Allen of Niles and a brother, K. Aaron Walls of Dundee, Ill.
     Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home or the American Cancer Society.
     Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Dorothy H. Litty Wisniewski
Dec. 15, 1912-Jan. 24, 2009

     Dorothy H. Litty Wisniewski, 96, of Main Street, Buchanan, died at 9:55 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, with her daughters at her side at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind., following a brief illness.
     Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles with Chaplain Russell L. Simonson of Forgotten Man Ministries officiating.
     The family will gather privately for committal services at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
     The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
     She was born on Dec. 15, 1912, in Detroit, to Edwards and Eva (Ryan) Rose. She graduated from high school in Ohio and has lived in this area since 1935.
     She was employed at Bendix Automotive for 24 years, retiring in 1975.
     She enjoyed reading mysteries and caring for her dogs. She always looked forward to Saturday nights, for the public television broadcasts of gospel music and the old Lawrence Welk shows.
     On June 14, 1935, she married Joseph Litty, who preceded her in death on Feb. 4, 1949. On Aug. 9, 1952, in Detroit, she married Arthur Wisniewski, who preceded her in death on May 9, 2005.
     She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Jean H. "Jeanie" Litty on Oct. 1, 2006; her grandson, Eric Baich on Sept. 16, 1998 and a sister, Mary Cass and brothers, Robert Rose and Ralph Rose.
Surviving family includes her children, Joan (Fred) Hubele of Niles, Nancy (Steffen) Baich of Buchanan and James Litty of Crown Point, Ind.; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; step-sons, Mark (Elaine) Lemon and Archie Cherry; a sister-in-law, Dorothy (Robert) Rose Tonopah, Nev. and many nieces and nephews.
     Contributions may be made to the Pet Refuge.
     Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:24am Monday, January 26, 2009

Frances M. Messner
March 6,1928-April 5, 2009

By Staff
Frances M. Messner, age 81, of Giles Road, Niles and formerly of Yankee Street, Niles, died at 8:48 p.m. Sunday, April 5, 2009, in Niles at her home.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 9, 2009, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, with Linda Van Dyke of Luvability Ministries, officiating.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home.
She was born on March 6, 1928, in Three Rivers, to lewis Harrison Owen and Dora LaVesta Welsh Owen. She had lived in Cassopolis since 1947.
She was a member of the Niles Association for Handicapped, TOPPS No. 1549. She enjoyed reading mysteries, sewing and knitting.
On Oct. 24, 1947, in Cassopolis, she married Louis E. Messner, who died on Oct. 11, 1992.
She was also preceded in death by a son, Mark Messner, who died March 20, 2006.
Surviving family includes a son, Chris (Cathy) Messner of Niles; granddaughters, Chandra Stafford and Holly (Mark) Gross, step-grandson, Jeff (Charidy) Barnes, great-grandchildren, Daniel Stafford, Charlie Stafford and Jonathon Gross; step-great-grandchildren, Nicole Barnes and Jacob Barnes; a brother, Lyle Owen of Florida and several half-sisters and brothers.
Memorials may be made to Lakeland Hospital, Niles.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Irene Grubbs, 96
Feb. 16, 1914 — Jan. 6, 2011

Irene M. Grubbs, 96, of North 13th Street in Niles, died at 10:20 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011 at Silverbrook Manor in Niles following a brief illness.

Mrs. Grubbs was born Feb. 16, 1914 in South Bend to Chasty and Mabel (Reder) Barts, and attended South Bend Schools.

As a young lady, she worked at the S.S. Kresge department store in South Bend. She moved to Niles in 1975 and was employed at the former Pawating Hospital (now Lakeland) in Niles.

Irene was a member of Church of Christ in Niles.

On Sept. 28, 1935 in South Bend, she married Kenneth E. Grubbs, Sr., who preceded her in death Jan. 20, 1975. She was also preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Harry Orville, Wilmer, twins Edgar and Edna and Nora.

Mrs. Grubbs is survived by a son, Kenneth (Linda) Grubbs of Niles; grandchildren, Scott Grubbs of Bowling Green, Kent. and Melisa Hemphill of Sumter, S.C.; great-grandchildren, Courtney (Tim) Stueber, Ashley (Matt) Knight, Jacob Hemphill and Alexandra Grubbs; and great-great-grandchildren, Tahlon Steuber and Ella and Gabby Knight.

Graveside services for Irene M. Grubbs will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and Mr. David Thompson of the Church of Christ officiating.

There will be no visitation.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Irene may be made to Church of Christ in Niles.

Gabriel Mahler, 5
July 30, 2005 — Jan. 4, 2011

Gabriel Mahler, 5, of Twin Lakeview Drive, Dowagiac, died at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011 at Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, Dowagiac of an accidental drowning.

Gabriel Mahler, 5

He was born July 30, 2005 in Niles to Randy John Devereau and Tamara Lynn Mahler. He lived for a short time in this area.

Gabriel attended Justus Gage Preschool in Dowagiac. He loved to fish, ride his bike and play his guitar; he idolized Buddy Holly. He loved animals, especially all of his pets.

He is survived by his parents, Tamara Mahler of Dowagiac and Randy Devereau of Niles; maternal grandparents, Walter and Christine Linn of Dowagiac and Melvin Mahler of Osceola, Ind; cousins, Joshua, Chase, Emily and Makenzie; and several aunts and uncles.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, 2011at St. Mary Catholic Church in Niles with Father Kevin Covert of Holy Maternity of Mary Catholic Church in Dowagiac and the Rev. David Otto of St. Mary Catholic Church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call beginning at 11 a.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Berrien County Humane Society or Christmas Commandos.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:04pm Wednesday, January 5, 2011